HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke is a city founded on Irish roots. Saturday night, the paper city played host to The Ancient Order of Hibernians annual picnic at the Wherehouse in Holyoke.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a fraternity. You either have to be and Irish born Catholic or a Catholic of Irish decent.

The Holyoke chapter was founded in 1880. Fittingly, Saturday’s annual picnic had traditional Irish food and music.

A few honors were also handed out, including the organization’s Christian Charity Award.

Award recipient Barbara Bernard told 22News, “If I bring food to somebody who’s hungry, if I pay a scholarship at a college for somebody who deserves it. It makes me happy. Somebody helped me get through college so in a sense I’m only repaying a community and a world for all the good things that came to me.”

The Ancient Order of Hibernians make it their goal to promote civic-mindedness, friendship and unity.